Do you use Round-Up on your food plots?

HCJ · Jul 8, 2009

I have various sized food plots scattered about a 300 acre tract here in S.C. We plant them yearly with a wildlife mix (wheat, rye, oats, clover) since this is fairly low budget and since we broadcast the seed. We usually plant in late August or September. By this time of year, the clover is dried up and only weeds and grasses are left. We have never used herbicides but I was wondering if it would be advantageous to use them. How do you guys handle your plots? Keep in mind we try to minimize costs, and only have a disc and drag harrow, and rotary cutter. What would be a good calendar or schedule of maintenance over the course of a year? We have had a terrible drought for the last several years, but it's looking better this year. Please be specific about what seed you plant and what chemicals you use. Thanks!

MMagis · Jul 9, 2009

I'm not completely sure I follow what you’re wanting to do. In clover, I use clethodim for grasses and 2,4,db for broadleaf weeds. I only use glyphosate when I want a burn down, usually mixed with 2,4,d.

Carykong · Jul 9, 2009

Unless I am missing something here. I see no advantage in the use of herbicides for wildlife foodplots. Keep it natural and low maintenance. Herbicides may actually destroy plants that attract wildlife.

archerm3 · Jul 10, 2009

Carykong said:
Unless I am missing something here. I see no advantage in the use of herbicides for wildlife foodplots. Keep it natural and low maintenance. Herbicides may actually destroy plants that attract wildlife.

I agree...I have a book of weeds for the midwest which lists possible uses and hazards of various weeds...it's incredible what worthless and annoying plants actually end up as a food for deer and turkeys..and it's also surprising at various times of the year what the deer in my yard end up eating down, not necessarily the good stuff and not the corn. I guess one reason to use some weedkiller would be to keep noxious weeds from spreading if that is a concern.

MMagis · Jul 10, 2009

I think you are missing something. There are thousands upon thousand of acres around with native vegetation. If they want native weeds they can eat them all day, every day. When my goal is to grow a crop of something, I do not want weeds taking over. It takes too much time and money. I will graze cattle on my clover field, but regardless, I’m not looking to grow weeds. I already have plenty around the rest of the farm.

archerm3 · Jul 11, 2009

What usually takes a lot of time and money is the herbicide.

foggy1111 · Jul 14, 2009

In reading the QDMA board.....some have put on as much as 1.5 quarts per acre of 41% glyphosate (roundup) on established stands of clover in order to control grasses and broadleafs. That may be a bit strong for me....and a quart per acre may provide enough control of unwanted weeds. According to what I read....the clovers bounce back pretty well. BUT (if I understand what I read correctly).....you need to apply when there is adequate moisture available (both to be effective on the growing weeds....and for the clover to bounce back). So Spring may provide the best application time for this technique.

I have not done this (yet).....but it sounds like a reasonable way to protect your planted crops.....particularly early in the growing season.

Their are other (better) herbicides available that will control weeds for application at this time of year.....IMO.